The Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom has called on the National Assembly to reject the National Water Resources Bill in the interest of the country.
The governor made the call in a Saturday statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.
Ortom said that the Bill which seeks to bring all water sources (surface and underground) as well as river banks under the control of the Federal Government through its agencies was anti-federalism and negates the right of Nigerians to their God-given resources.
Ortom described as curious, the reintroduction of the National Water Resources Bill, which was rejected in 2018 by the 8th Assembly.
He said he was convinced that those pushing for the passage of the bill at all costs have a surreptitious motive which is not yet clear to other Nigerians.
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The governor further stated that besides its provisions being at variance with the Land Use Act, the Bill “is a disguised land-grabbing legislation designed to grant pastoralists unhindered access to river basins, adjacent marine and coastal environments across the country”.
Ortom maintained that the “bill is another version of Ruga which objective is to create grazing areas in the 36 states of the federation for herders and their livestock”.
He commended socio-cultural organisations such as Afenifere, Ohanaeze and Middle Belt Forum for speaking against the reintroduction of the bill at the National Assembly.
The governor urged the federal lawmakers to act as true representatives of the people for the sake of posterity and to remember that the destiny of the country lies in their hands.
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